Debate on the 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide

28 February 2013

On Thursday 28 February 2013 the House of Commons debated a motion relating to the 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide. The Backbench Business Committee scheduled the debate following a representation by Nadhim Zahawi.

The House agreed to the motion:

"That this House formally recognises the genocide against the people of Iraqi Kurdistan; encourages governments, the EU and UN to do likewise; believes that this will enable Kurdish people, many in the UK, to achieve justice for their considerable loss; and further believes that it would enable the UK, the home of democracy and freedom, to send out a message of support for international conventions and human rights, which is made even more pressing by the slaughter in Syria and the possible use of chemical arsenals."

Watch the debate and read a transcript

Watch the debate on Parliament TV and read the views expressed by MPs in Commons Hansard.

How the subject was selected

The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representations at its meeting on 29 January 2013 by Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Halfon, Meg Munn, Fabian Hamilton and Jason McCartney for a debate on 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide and its contemporary relevance.